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The Blackhouse (Lewis Trilogy) [Kindle Edition]

Peter May (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (868 customer reviews)
Print List Price: £7.99
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Product Description

Review

'A gripping novel ... Impressive writing and a clammy, claustrophobic atmosphere' The Times.

'An outstanding page-turning murder mystery' Irish Independent.

Product Description

A brutal killing takes place on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland: a land of harsh beauty and inhabitants of deep-rooted faith. A MURDER Detective Inspector Fin Macleod is sent from Edinburgh to investigate. For Lewis-born Macleod, the case represents a journey both home and into his past. A SECRET Something lurks within the close-knit island community. Something sinister. A TRAP As Fin investigates, old skeletons begin to surface, and soon he, the hunter, becomes the hunted.
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Product details

  • Format: Kindle Edition
  • File Size: 616 KB
  • Print Length: 502 pages
  • Publisher: Quercus (5 Jan 2011)
  • Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B004MYF4SS
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled
  • X-Ray: Enabled
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (868 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #231 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

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Peter May
Peter May

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
218 of 224 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Dark secrets 9 Jun 2011
By FictionFan TOP 100 REVIEWER VINE™ VOICE
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
The novel is set on the remote island of Lewis far off the coast of northern Scotland. This is an area that the author will know well since he spent several years there producing and filming the Gaelic language TV series, Machair. This gives an authenticity to the very strong descriptions of this remote, rugged, weather-beaten corner of the British Isles. In particular, May's description of the annual guga (gannet) hunt is fascinating both in its detail and in the light it sheds on the island community's strong attachment to its ancient traditions.

DS Fin Macleod is sent back to Lewis to investigate a murder that resembles one that took place earlier in his Edinburgh patch. Returning home after 20 years away, Fin is thrown into remembering and re-assessing his difficult childhood and adolescence. The book alternates between the present day and Fin's past and it gradually emerges that the shadow of that past may be involved in the current investigation.

At first, I found the alternation between the present and the past irritating as it seemed to break the flow of the story. However, as the links between the two became clearer, the tension gradually mounted and came finally to an unexpected and dramatic climax. Along the way, May describes a community more inclined to deal with problems internally rather than involving the authorities, a place where the young people are beginning to challenge the traditions and strict religious observances of their elders and where dark secrets can sometimes come back to haunt.

Not a traditional whodunit crime novel, this is more an examination of the why of the mystery and is ultimately perhaps more satisfying for that.
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77 of 80 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Dark goings on, and some clever twists 26 Feb 2011
By Bloodaxe
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I've read several of the authors' previous works (from his two crime series The China Thrillers and the Enzo Files) so knew the kind of things to expect - or so I thought. But The Blackhouse is even better.

Peter May's great storytelling soon drags you in to a number of strands. On the face of it, The Blackhouse starts as a relatively simple murder mystery. But it soon becomes much more than that, a tale of rediscovery and childhood memories interspersed with some great descriptions of the harsh landscape and unique way of life of the islands. And the way the author handles the same character in the both present and the past is excellent. I don't usually like childhood growing up stories, but this one kept me gripped.

Typically, the plot is compelling. Right up until almost the last page, you are kept guessing - and wanting to know what will happen next. I read the book over 4 nights and on each the light didn't go out until after 1am. This book is very hard to put down!

Like the previous reviewer said, once it's over and the last page has been turned, you do keep on revisiting the story in your head. And wishing there was a bit more... because it's addictive. I've not actually been to the Outer Hebrides, but I certainly feel like I know the place now.

I understand there's likely to be a second book in the pipeline, so hopefully won't have to wait too long for my next fix.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Not a Detective Novel 5 Oct 2011
By Mr. Mark A. Berry
Format:Kindle Edition
The story is set on the remote Outer Hebridean Island of Lewis. Fin (the detective and ex islander) is brought over to look at similarities between, a murder on Lewis and one he was investigating in Edinburgh.

On first impression this looks like a straight forward detective story, but really this is just a minor thread through the book like the backbone on a herringbone - it holds the piece together but all the meat is on the smaller bones. The real story is in the flashbacks to major events in Fins early life on the island before he left to go to University, never to return. The threads tie together as the book unfolds opening little cracks and hinting at motives and possible suspects for the murder.

I felt there was real affection in the descriptions of the island and life on it, tinged with a bit of warts and all. It is not presented in a sugar coated way, the hardships and harsh economic realities of struggling communi8ties who are fighting to keep their traditions, 'industries' and youngsters is laid bare.

There is real skill in the writing, the way the landscape and weather is described conjured endless images for me, despite having never been to Lewis I have travelled extensively the west coast of Scotland including Skye and Mull, and I also live high in the pennines with its harsh open moorland.

I really did enjoy this book and would thoroughly recommend it.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars The Blackhouse
Read this book purely on the reviews........
Absolutely Stunning!!!!!!! Superbly written!!
Never saw the end coming, BRILLIANT!!! Read more
Published 1 day ago by David brook
5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding
Quite simply the best novel I have read this year.
Thought provoking,complex and totally gripping.
Now starting the next in the series.
Can it be as good?
Published 2 days ago by David Cotton
4.0 out of 5 stars Blackhouse by Peter May
Not exactly a crime novel but enjoyable nonetheless. Good story and atmospheric, good descriptions of the island and the way of life/
Published 2 days ago by E A M Strain
5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding!
There are already lots of reviews of the Lewis Trilogy on here, so I am not going to go into detail. Read more
Published 2 days ago by C. Buckroyd
4.0 out of 5 stars The Blackhouse {Lewis Trilogy]
enjoyable read, quite gripping at times, I am looking forward to reading others in this series, have put in my wish list
Published 3 days ago by Mrs Paticia Ann Brown
3.0 out of 5 stars Worth a read
A good read , a good local knowledge and and an easy style it makes me keen to read the rest of the Trilogy. Three stars for me.
Published 3 days ago by KRG
5.0 out of 5 stars Great.
Just a really satisfying read. Lovely descriptions and a neat twist. The only slight negative is there were few clues to the final outcome. Read more
Published 4 days ago by Orland
5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful escapism
The first of the trilogy, fantastic descriptions of the islands, people and all consuming weather. Takes you into a world very few people visit. Read more
Published 7 days ago by W. Sawyer
2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing.
I really looked forward to reading this book after checking out all the reviews but it's just so predicatble it hurts and not even the detailed scenery could save it. Read more
Published 8 days ago by Chicago87
4.0 out of 5 stars the black house
gripped to the end excellent writing bought all three books in the series as a result good recommendations from youselves
Published 8 days ago by jackyholford
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